IndyCar adds Washington DC street race to 2026 schedule following Trump order

• Event will be first motor race held on the National Mall
• It will be free for fans to attend and celebrate 250 years of US independence

IndyCar will look to add a street race in Washington DC to the 2026 schedule following an executive order signed by US president Donald Trump.

The race is due to be held from 21st to 23rd August to commemorate 250 years of US independence. It will be known as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC and will be free for fans to attend.

The event would fill the slot between the Grand Prix of Markham and a double-header at Milwaukee Mile.

The city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, will work with the Trump administration to stage the race, which IndyCar said will include the National Mall. Meanwhile, the interior and transportation departments will be tasked with designing the track layout alongside IndyCar and finding funding for the race.

‘IndyCar racing is a source of pride and entertainment for our nation, which is why I am pleased to announce the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC,’ Trump’s executive order read.

‘This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our Nation’s capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.’

“President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport, and we’re grateful for his trust and support as IndyCar prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle,” added Roger Penske, chairman of IndyCar owner Penske Corporation.

“This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation and excellence that powers motorsports across America.”

Go deeper:

• Why did Fox invest in IndyCar and what happens next?
• IndyCar president Doug Boles on Fox’s ‘secret sauce’, treating races as events, and Mexico expansion plans

Announcing an entirely new race just one month before the start of the season is an unusual move but is the latest example of Trump’s embrace of sport during his second term. He has also been involved in promoting a UFC fight night which is due to take place at the White House on 14th June.

Rumours of the IndyCar race first surfaced as US secretary of transportation Sean Duffy shared an AI-generated video on X last week showing IndyCar racing around the National Mall. This quickly gained the support of Trump and things have moved swiftly in the hopes of adding the event in time for the US’s 250th birthday celebrations.

Whether the race will be ready with such a tight turnaround remains to be seen, especially with the considerable logistical effort that will be required. Racing on the grounds of the US Capitol will also present unique challenges, such as it being illegal to advertise.

In other IndyCar news, Team Penske has appointed Tim Cindric as race strategist for Scott McLaughlin this year.

Cindric returns to the sport just eight months after being implicated in both the team’s push-to-pass cheating scandal in 2024 and the controversy surrounding last year’s qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, the latter of which saw him removed as president of Team Penske.

“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams,” Penske said at the time.